Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Unlike the dragons of fairy tales, this dragon doesn't kidnap princesses, but is it true that Komodo dragons have been known to eat humans?
2. In the role-playing game 'Skyrim', a warrior with the soul of a dragon is known as 'Dovahkiin' in the dragon language. The people of Komodo coined the term 'buaya darat' for the Komodo dragon. What does it mean?
3. Many fictional dragons, such as sea dragons or the Biblical Leviathan, are snakelike in form. While the Komodo dragon is no snake, it does detect prey in the same way as a snake by using a certain part of its body. What organ does the Komodo dragon use to detect its prey?
4. According to Japanese myth, the Yamata no Orochi - an eight-headed dragon - was long enough to cover eight hills and eight valleys. While the Komodo dragon isn't that long, it can get pretty big. Up to what (approximate) length can a Komodo dragon grow?
5. In George RR Martin's 'A Song of Ice and Fire' series, Daenerys Targaryen is known as 'the mother of dragons', and has three dragons which she raises from birth. If Daenerys were to breed Komodo dragons, she would be expecting them to lay their eggs at a certain time. In which month do Komodo dragons lay their eggs?
6. From the Rainbow Serpent of Australian Aboriginal myth to the Babylonian Tiamat, dragons have featured in creation myths all over the world. Female Komodo dragons may not create worlds, but they can create eggs without the help of a male Komodo dragon. What is this particular type of reproduction called?
7. In JRR Tolkien's 'The Hobbit', the villainous dragon Smaug lives in the Lonely Mountain, which he stole from the dwarves, along with their gold. Komodo dragons also make use of the home of another species - not to steal treasure, but in order to lay their eggs. What kind of habitat do the females choose to have their babies?
8. The knights and princes who slay dragons in fiction may be heroes, but there is nothing heroic about the poaching of a species listed as vulnerable. As well as having been poached for their meat and eggs, Komodo dragons have also been poached for their skin in order to make bags and purses. Does Komodo dragon skin make a high-quality product?
9. Fire isn't the only element associated with dragons in fiction. Snow and ice dragons have appeared in all kinds of fiction, from Hyorinmaru in the manga 'Bleach' to the Ice Dragon in Oliver Postgate's 'Noggin the Nog' series. However, an icy climate would be a nightmare for the Komodo dragon as it relies on heat. After eating, it will often bask in the sun. Why does it do this?
10. Not all dragons are fire-breathers. Some, such as the hydra of Greek myth and the Green Dragon of 'Final Fantasy VI', have poisonous breath. However, is the bite of a Komodo dragon poisonous?
Source: Author
Kankurette
This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor
Tizzabelle before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.